China’s medical teams have done a lot to help Guineans and are the best witnesses of the two countries’ friendship, said Guinean President Alpha Conde.

Conde made the remarks at an event held in the Guinean capital of Conakry on April 26 by the Chinese embassy to Guinea in celebration of the 50th anniversary of China’s sending the first medical team to the African nation in 1968.

Since then, more than 700 doctors and nurses in 26 medical teams have worked in the country. The 26th team, which is composed of 19 medical staff from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, arrived in the country in July 2017.

Conde said the Chinese have offered precious help and support in health care, which Guineans appreciate greatly. He said Guinea sees China as a trustworthy strategic partner and would like to expand friendly cooperation in different fields with China.

Chinese Ambassador to Guinea Bian Jianqiang said the Chinese medical teams have won praise from local people for their dedication and expertise, and have become an important part of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

He said as socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered into a new era, so has pragmatic cooperation in different fields between the two countries. The cooperation now features mutual political trust and complementary economic relations.

China would like to deepen cooperation with Guinea in health care and other fields and better benefit people in both countries, said Bian.

Lei Haichao, director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, said the commission will implement medical projects between the two countries and help boost medical development and train medical staff in Guinea.

Over the past 50 years, 26 medical teams from Beijing have helped improve local health care and made great contributions to local people’s wellbeing, said Lei.

He said the teams have also built close relations with Guinean medical units in terms of clinical diagnosis and treatment, scientific studies, disease prevention and control and personnel training.

The celebratory event, which also included a photo exhibition, attracted some 300 participants. Besides officials and medical experts from the two countries, it was also attended by representatives of international and regional organizations as well as diplomats from different countries.